The name of this icon comes from that of
Mt.Kykkos in the north-western part of Cyprus. The holy image, which,
according to a legend, was painted by the Apostle St.Luke, was sent by him
to the Egyptian Christians. In Egypt, however, disturbances broke out and.
in order to save the icon, it was translated to a secluded island. On the
way there it was seized by Arabs, but soon Byzantines recaptured it and
sent it to the imperial palace in Constantinople.In the reign of Emperor Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118),
the icon was translated to Cyprus. There exist numerous legends associated
with this event, which tell about
countless cures of members of the imperial family and common
people.This miracle-working icon has one interesting feature:
no one can see its original, for it is kept under a coverlet. He who dares
lift the coverlet will suffer God's punishment. In 1699, Patriarch
Gerasimus of Alexandria removed the coverlet and was punished. Only after
he offered a prayer to the Mother of God was his wrongdoing forgiven.
Apparently, it was in the 17th century that copies of this miraculous icon
appeared in Russia. Feast day;
November 12/25.